Beautiful images of birds in flight -

From dainty passerines to majestic raptors, the variety of birdlife on Earth is simply staggering. And in the natural world, few sights can match a bird in flight, free on the wing, and flying high. 

Browse the gallery for some incredible in-flight entertainment. 

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Northern hawk owl - Scientific name: Surnia ulula.

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Red-bellied woodpecker - Scientific name: Melanerpes carolinus.

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Puffin - Scientific name: Fratercula.

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Eurasian hoopoe - Scientific name: Upupa epos.

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Bald eagle - Scientific name: Haliaeetus leucocephalus.

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Yellow-legged gull -

Scientific name: Larus michahellis.

(Photo: Flickr/CC BY 2.0)

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Murmuration of common starlings - Scientific name: Sturnus vulgaris.

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Northern gannet -

Scientific name: Morus bassanus.

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European bee-eater - Scientific name: Merops apiaster.

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Eurasian eagle-owl - Scientific name: Bubo bubo.

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Lesser flamingo -

Scientific name: Phoenicoparrus minor.

(Photo: Flickr/CC BY-SA 2.0)

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White stork -

Scientific name: Ciconia ciconia.

(Photo: Flickr/CC BY-SA 2.0)

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Blue jay - Scientific name: Cyanocitta crostata.

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Snowy owl - Scientific name: Bubo scandiacus.

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Canada goose -

Scientific name: Branta canadensis.

(Photo: Flickr/CC BY 2.0)

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Great hornbill -

Scientific name: Buceros bicornis.

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Steely-vented hummingbird - Scientific name: Amazilia saucerottei.

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Sandhill crane -

Scientific name: Antigone canadensis.

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Pied kingfisher - Scientific name: Ceryle rudis.

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Great gray owl -

Scientific name: Strix nebulas.

(Photo: Flickr/CC BY-SA 2.0)

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Wandering albatross -

Scientific name: Diomedea exulans.

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Baltimore oriole - Scientific name:  Icterus galbula.

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Grey heron -

Scientific name: Ardea cinerea. 

(Photo: Flickr/CC BY-ND 2.0)

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Arctic tern -

Scientific name: Sterna paradisaea.

(Photo: Flickr/CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)

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Mute swan - Scientific name: Cygnus olor.

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American robin -

Scientific name: Turdus migratorius.

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Mallard duck - Scientific name: Anas platyrhynchos.

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Andean condor - Scientific name: Vultur gryphus.

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Common kingfisher - Scientific name: Alcedo atthis.

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American avocet - Scientific name: Recurvirostra americana.

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Black skimmer -

Scientific name: Rynchops niger.

(Photo: Flickr/CC BY-SA 2.0)

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Brown pelican -

Scientific name: Pelecanus occidentalis.

(Photo: Flickr/CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)

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Emperor penguin -

Scientific name: Aptenodytes forsteri—because even flightless birds can have fun!

(Photo: Flickr/CC BY 2.0)

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